lecture 3 (scaling in biological systems)

Question 1

dimension of time scales

Answer 1

scale 1: growth development and agin
time as a trajectory

scale 2: maintenance and repair
life as rhythyms

scale 3: homeostasis
life as balance

scale 4: action potential and enzyme catalysts
life as energy and info flow

Question 2

sleep and health:

how does sleep affect the body?
risks of poor sleep patterns?

Answer 2

sleep:

-coordinated with natural and artificial light
-too little and too much are disease risk factors
-controlled by brain

risks:

-increased cancer risk
-increased accident incidences and impulsive behaviour
-impaired learning and memory

Question 3

cause of height loss

Answer 3

vertebral disk bone degregation and disk degeneration, which is the major cause of decreased height, and compression factors